Retired Public Employees Council of WA Working to protect and enhance the pension and health care benefits of Washington retired state, county and local government employees
RPEC Weekly ACTION Newsletter – 1-18-2019
In This Edition
- Plan 1 COLA Support by Governor and SCPP
- WA State Legislative Bill Summary
- RPEC PAC Contribution Deduction Form
- MLK Events for Monday
Plan 1 COLA Supported by Governor and SCPP
Governor Inslee’s State of the State address this past Tuesday and his 2019 budget proposal includes a 3 percent pension increase for many retirees in the Public Employees’ and Teachers’ Retirement Systems Plan 1. Effective July 1, 2019, the increase would be capped at $62.50 per month. It would affect an estimated 39,000 PERS 1 and 32,000 TRS 1 retirees.
https://www.ofm.wa.gov/…/hi…/budget19/19-21-compensation.pdf
This mirrors the bill proposal by the Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP) forwarded as a recommendation as voted on at their November meeting. A bill to enact this proposal is expected to be introduced shortly. More information to follow.
WA State Legislative Bill Summary
Legislators have also introduced several other bills that would impact retirees. Below are the list bills we are tracking as they move through the legislative process. More will be added as they are released. Full Text and updates on these bills can be found by search for the bill number at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
Here is a link to the list of bills currently of focus to RPEC: http://www.rpecwa.org/2019 Legislative Bill Tracking 01-18-2019.pdf
RPEC PAC Contribution Deduction Form
Per Resolution #1 & Resolution #2 passed at the RPEC Convention, held September 19-20, 2018 in Pasco, RPEC now has its own voluntary deduction program to help subsidize our Political Action Committee to fund its own political program in state races. You can now contribute to the RPEC PAC fund through a voluntary deduction from your Department of Retirement Systems pension.
In the first few weeks of the year, we have seen a sizeable number of members signing up to participate in our new Political Action Fund Deduction.
This optional deduction is separate from regular membership dues and will go directly to RPEC Political Action Fund to be used for supporting candidates running for office here in Washington that support retirees.
Download the RPEC PAC Deduction Form here, print, fill out and return to the Council Office at:
Retired Public Employees Council
906 Columbia St SW, Ste 501
Olympia, WA 98501
MLK Events for Monday
From The Calendar at The Stand
SEATTLE — MLK Day activities in Seattle on Jan. 21 begin at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave., with workshops at 9:30 a.m. and a rally in the school gym at 11 a.m. The march begins from there at 12:30 p.m. and goes to Westlake Park downtown (4th and Pine), where a second rally begins at 1:30 p.m. Get details.
SPOKANE — The annual citywide MLK Day rally will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21 at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The march will begin at about 11 a.m. and later a resource fair will offer volunteer opportunities. Get details.
YAKIMA — Marchers will gather for Yakima’s annual MLK Day community peace march at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 at W. 5th Avenue and MLK Jr. Blvd. The march to the Yakima Convention Center starts at noon. A program honoring King follows there at 1 p.m. Get details.
Many more events are planned in cities around Washington state. Check your local newspaper for more information.
